Northern Unit Refurbishments and depot allocations.

[Last Hurrah]

The CAF factory in Newport is problematic as it can’t be directly accessed to/from the nearby mainline just yards away - a gas main between the two is seemingly an insurmountable problem that should have been addressed when the factory was built

As if that was bad enough, the nearby Steel works won’t permit rail movements on their track for new stock exiting the CAF factory

Consequently, everything leaving the CAF factory at the moment has to go by road to Telford yard in the Midlands to access the rail network

 

[sbrignall72]

Nothing until Saturday the 11th currently. Should be 150001 & 150222.

Believe only 150222 has gone?

 

[T74]

Believe only 150222 has gone?

150001 is out and about on Sheff to Lds via dearne today

 

[simon7929]

Looks like 156472 is out and about in the NE. Also noted. Now fitted with brighter LED lights.

 

[NorthernSpirit]

Astonishing (but necessary), the work and expenditure thrown at a life expired , knackered 150 that with the 155s and 156s should by now be broken up in a scrapyard but somehow or other is being pieced together to keep going for who knows how long given the length of time it is taking to order already overdue replacements for these workhorses .
And just as well they are kept going; what plan B is there . A legacy of successive governments abject failure to properly invest in railway infrastructure in the north for many years , and Northern's diesel fleet already over the cliff edge with daily short forms , over crowding and a knackered fleet of outdated,clapped out 15X units .
Not helped by the next to useless 195s , hopelessly unreliable with a train builder incapable it seems of supplying spare parts in a timely manner, with multiple daily short forms on the Calder Valley amongst other routes . Came across two solo 195/0 today , both trains full and standing ....one going to form the 1712 Leeds to Manchester Victoria service which is packed when four coaches . Any idea what's happened to 195001 , has it gone down a hole never to be seen again at Newton Heath ; I'm just back from holiday and it's still unallocated on RTT ... it must be 2 or 3 months out of action ?

Indeed. In my opinion, there should have been a wholesale 15X replacement back when the Pacers were replaced (apart from maybe the 158s). Yet, the 321/9s and 322s were replaced, despite them being more reliable, and younger than some 15Xs!

It’s a similar situation to the Bakerloo line, where they are only now considering replacing the 1972 stock, despite them being life expired several years ago.

I agree that the whole “business case” thing is ludicrous, as it has resulted in some decent trains being binned off, such as the 350/2s and 707s, whereas other fleets that barely work don’t get replacements.

I still think that Arriva Rail North (trading as Northern Railways) should have ordered a lot more class 195's (both in two, three and even four car variants given the platform constraints) in order to replace the more knackered stuff. Many years ago I remarked on here that the class 150's should be converted to hybrids in the medium term (maximum of 10-15 years) to allow new rolling stock to be introduced, the thinking was the more Sprinters that are reformed into hybrids the more new rolling stock could be introduced whilst maintaining extra seats - with the more knackered stuff being sent into a one way journey into the frag feed, thus allowing a roughly like for like replacement and some form of contigency when things go wrong.

Although at least Northern (DFT OLR trading as Northern Trains) are referbishing the fleet.

 

[sbrignall72]

There is a 5H70 from Newton Heath and 5H71 from Neville Hill this Saturday. Are they 156420 and 150001.

 

[diligentdave]

There is a 5H70 from Newton Heath and 5H71 from Neville Hill this Saturday. Are they 156420 and 150001.

5H70 as far as I'm aware is cancelled. 5H71 should be 150001.

 

[sbrignall72]

5H70 as far as I'm aware is cancelled. 5H71 should be 150001.

What should it have been on 5H70

 

[BurtonM]

Indeed. In my opinion, there should have been a wholesale 15X replacement back when the pacers were replaced (apart from maybe the 158s). Yet, the 321/9s and 322s were replaced, despite them being more reliable, and younger than some 15Xs!

I've been saying this ever since the 'beach towel' seat moquette fiasco, and I've felt like I'm talking to a brick wall and failed to comprehend why nobody agreed or even acknowledged it.
The 150 replacement procurement should have started the moment the last 142 was withdrawn, not now, five years later. The replacements should already be here.

The oldest 150s are 40 years old, even the Pacers didn't make it that far - 150s running around now is the same in concept as First North Western having a fleet of knackered first generation DMUs running their entire network in the year 2000. (They had fifteen year old 15x...)
The first generation units only had a 30 year service life too.
And the 150s need to last six more years...
It's nothing short of a joke.

Although at least Northern (DFT OLR trading as Northern Trains) are referbishing the fleet.

It's ARN that started the process by repainting the entire fleet (and set the abysmal internal refurb quality standard), the DFT just kept going with it as they didn't want to spend any money replacing Northern's branding.

 

[Ryry]

Noticed today that quite a few of the class 156s are a yellowy colour. Are the depot having problems cleaning their fleet

 

[D6130]

Noticed today that quite a few of the class 156s are a yellowy colour. Are the depot having problems cleaning their fleet

Might be the rust beginning to work its way through the body panelling!

 

[rattyben]

I've been saying this ever since the 'beach towel' seat moquette fiasco, and I've felt like I'm talking to a brick wall and failed to comprehend why nobody agreed or even acknowledged it.
The 150 replacement procurement should have started the moment the last 142 was withdrawn, not now, five years later. The replacements should already be here.

The oldest 150s are 40 years old, even the Pacers didn't make it that far - 150s running around now is the same in concept as First North Western having a fleet of knackered first generation DMUs running their entire network in the year 2000. (They had fifteen year old 15x...)
The first generation units only had a 30 year service life too.
And the 150s need to last six more years...
It's nothing short of a joke.

It's ARN that started the process by repainting the entire fleet (and set the abysmal internal refurb quality standard), the DFT just kept going with it as they didn't want to spend any money replacing Northern's branding.

Agreed.

In the next 5 years Northern risks having issues that make 2018 timetable fiasco look like a picnic.

This old fleet isn’t going to last given they’ve got issues with other trains, that on top of the fact they don’t have the capacity for the natural growth let along the 30 by 30 they are pushing to get.

 

[sbrignall72]

One for diligentdave are there any updates please to the dates these units are likely to be released.
150120
150210
150275 seeing as today's was cancelled
155345
156401 from Kilmarnock
156466
156481
156488
Are there any other 156s in Wolverton as only one from NH.
Is 156420 still expected to go back.

MTIA

 

[diligentdave]

One for diligentdave are there any updates please to the dates these units are likely to be released.
150120 expected out 9th May
150210 currently early June
150275 seeing as today's was cancelled possibly 9th May
155345 currently 29th May
156401 from Kilmarnock This unit is at Wolverton, currently possibly 31st July
156466 currently 5th June
156481 currently 30th May
156488 currently 4th July
Are there any other 156s in Wolverton as only one from NH. No more 156's, although 150222 is now there, as well as 150001.
Is 156420 still expected to go back. Don't know, investigation work is still ongoing at NH.

MTIA

 

[M60lad]

While not refurbished per say a long term out of service unit is back out today, 195001 is finally back out in service today after being out of service since December last year its currently paired with 195010 on Calder Valley Line (Chester/Manchester Victoria-Leeds) services.

 

[Soft Hands]

One for diligentdave are there any updates please to the dates these units are likely to be released.
150120
150210
150275 seeing as today's was cancelled
155345
156401 from Kilmarnock
156466
156481
156488
Are there any other 156s in Wolverton as only one from NH.
Is 156420 still expected to go back.

MTIA

156420 is back out in service today, for the first time in many weeks, now working in a pair with 156424 on the New Mills Central turnbacks!

 

[sbrignall72]

156420 is back out in service today, for the first time in many weeks, now working in a pair with 156424 on the New Mills Central turnbacks!

Hopefully all it's troubles are now behind it.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Apr 2026 ==

Have any of 158904, 908 or 909 been away to Crewe yet, I noticed there was a cancelled working today from Crewe to Neville Hill.

 

[Killingworth]

156420 is back out in service today, for the first time in many weeks, now working in a pair with 156424 on the New Mills Central turnbacks!

They only worked those until mid-day after which they went to Chester.

Meanwhile on a gloriously warm and sunny day crowds wanted to go into the Peak District, exhorted to do so by various media reports of the 75th Anniversary of the Peak District National Park this month. You'd think they'd put on extra trains through the Hope Valley but no, 2x3 car 195 and a 2 car 195 were allocated - and overwhelmed on many trips leaving many on platforms on both sides of the Pennines and packed like sardines if they got aboard.

It's clearly a nightmare satisfying all the highly variable weekend leisure demands with such a tightly stretched fleet.

 

[sbrignall72]

Which 158 is in Crewe currently there was a return due today but was cancelled. I think 904, 908 and 909 are yet to go

 

[northernchris]

Which 158 is in Crewe currently there was a return due today but was cancelled. I think 904, 908 and 909 are yet to go

909 is currently at Crewe, believe 904 has already been

 

[sbrignall72]

909 is currently at Crewe, believe 904 has already been

Many thanks just 908 to go

 

[Trainz6013]

Hello, any ideas what unit this may be?

Train K65497 On Is No Longer Valid

Live Train Times for Train to departing on | Rail Record

live.rail-record.co.uk

 

[Soft Hands]

Hello, any ideas what unit this may be?

Train K65497 On Is No Longer Valid

Live Train Times for Train to departing on | Rail Record

live.rail-record.co.uk

156416

 

[Trainz6013]

156416

Ah, figured it could've been as it was out and about in the NE this evening

I thought it may have been something coming back off refurbishment, but evidently not

 

[simon7929]

This and 417 were allocated to Heaton a couple of years ago. But didn't stay long. And were sent to to NH to join the rest of the ex EMR 156s at NH. In exchange came 156 420/3.

 

[Soft Hands]

Ah, figured it could've been as it was out and about in the NE this evening

I thought it may have been something coming back off refurbishment, but evidently not

Reported elsewhere that 156416 has gone up to Heaton for a C4 exam...

 

[M60lad]

Might have been asked before but why do trains have to go the long way round from Newton Heath to Heaton Depot instead of the more direct route via Calder Valley, Brighouse, Wakefield and York?

 

[philip.holgate]

Traction knowledge of class 156s is not very good in the Leeds/ York area, but all depots via Carlisle do sign them, I would imagine

 

[Anvil1984]

Traction knowledge of class 156s is not very good in the Leeds/ York area, but all depots via Carlisle do sign them, I would imagine

These jobs tend to be done by Rail Operations Group (not many drivers if any sign the route between Oxenholme and Carlisle). I’m just going to guess it’s availability of paths

 

[philip.holgate]

Fair enough